Daily Devotionals

A Dangerous Church Transforms

Acts 2:44-45

Safety rule #1, don't jump on your bed or you may bonk your head. Another safety rule I learned is don't go swimming until at least 30 minutes after you've eaten or you may get a cramp and die. Maybe some of you learned that one. Another one is don't ever run with scissors. You may fall and poke your eye out or something like that. One that you probably didn't learn but I’ve heard of is don't play with your bellybutton or the thing may come unraveled and you'll fly away like a balloon. I'm sure you didn't hear that one but I did. In the church world, there are also some safety rules as well. They may not be formally taught, but they are often practiced. Church safety rule #1 is don't offend anybody. Keep it safe. Church rule #2 is don't talk about anything controversial. Church rule #3 is don't change anything. We like the way it was done in the 1950s and so let's keep doing it that way.

Our Mission: To make Christlike disciples in Greenville

1) THE ORDINARY INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

Ordinary: idiotes (id-ee-o'-tace) – idiot, ignoramus.

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs…that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured… Acts 19:11-12

When is the last time you have believed God for something extraordinary?

Christianity Today asked this really interesting question. What's the biggest business in town? The writer said it's God's business and he started to make his argument and it was interesting he said, name one business in town that has more branches than the local church. Then he said name one business in town that's got more money than the local church. Then he went on to say that the resources of the church is not what the church has in it's bank account, but what the true church, us, have available to us. Then he said, what's the most durable and strongest business in town, the local church. Name one business anywhere that's lasted for 2000 years, you can't name one and yet the church has. And you think about the church in it's infant days, the very first New Testament believers, well if you remember, the Roman Empire, an entire empire tried to shut Christianity down by killing them. The Roman Empire, last time I checked, does not exist today, and yet the church has spread all over the world. It's the biggest business in town. That raises the question, why is God's business not as effective as it could be, and I'd answer many reasons. One of the reasons is the local branch is finding themselves competing against one another rather than completing one another, sad wouldn't you think. Another reason is that a lot of local branches are more interested in the name on the outside of the building than uniting under the one name in whom we serve. My biggest argument though would be this. For the American church, why is it that we are not as effective as we could be? It's because for American Christians we are better at being spiritual consumers than we are at being spiritual contributors.

2) CONSUMERS INTO CONTRIBUTERS.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Acts 2:44-45

The church is not here for us. We are the church – and we are here for the world!

When is the last time you have given of yourself sacrificially?

3) THE LIVING TO THE DEAD.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me... Galatians 2:20

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Are you dead yet?

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Cornerstone Community Church

Daily Devotionals

A Dangerous Church Transforms

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